The Golden Triangle – September 2001

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Bugs, Bikes and Butterflies


For those of you on a shoestring budget and a cast iron stomach or just a back to nature kinda dude or dudah (F), well, S.E. Asia is the place for you. For starters, bugs don’t cost much by the bag full. 5-10 baht purchases may be made from Maesai clear to the south of Thailand. Remember, bugs are high in protein and contain ingredients that most people have not imagined or consumed. So, if you think you are missing something, try a bug or 2…come on, I have…after about 19 beers on the Mekhong river in Laos, I had juicy, meaty crickets! And I did not throw up!

For those that like the bamboo grubs, well, Maesalong in the Golden Triangle mountains of the north is known for selling baggies by the score. Throw them into your pack and hit the trails, the hilltribes will be your best friend for life if you give them some. Moreover, Akha kids will have live termites for their sweet taste. I am witness to this, but did not have the stomach for the live ones!

In Chiang Saen, one can order “Khai Mot Dang” omlettes for breakfast. Red ant eggs in an omlette! Yep, great for hangovers! Speaking of hangovers, if you have one, try the viper or centipede hooch at the King Kobra terrace…nothing like getting rid of that queezy feeling with a little of this hooch.

Bikes


The krazy Dutchmen made it to Maesai, came and went! Exploring the north on motorbikes is an excellent way to make it up those muddy trails. Experience helps and sometimes it doesn’t. First casualty, our fearless Patrick, after goose-ing a few maidens, goosed his bike a few revs for a wheelie. However, the new riders weaved, sending ol’ Pat for a spill and a visit to the emergency room of Maesai hospital. This made it a short night and an early departure for Patrick to recoup in Chiang Mai with a private nurse. Medical services are available for those needing it in Maesai, by the way.

The next day we all headed out to the jungle in search of mud and action on the slip and slide trails of the north. Plenty of wetness all around and everyone bit the trail at least twice or more. With jungle too thick, trails too narrow and paths too steep, the boys, including Dutch Army Commando Sgt. Andre, man handled those iron work horses! It sometimes took up to 3 persons to walk the iron to a safe junction. With our work cut out, at the end of Lahu mountain, Steve’s comment to that course was, “I like it tough, but not that tough, and don’t laugh when I fall! #^@&*! Damn it!”

Butterflies

Even the tough have the time to see nature’s beauty. These and other nature creatures can be seen throughout the territory, or perhaps in a dish in front of you. A zoo may be considered a supermarket for some of the people of the Golden Triangle, so leave your dog at home…

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